Loathing the way the Roses deflected their inner trouble, caused the Shade to seethe with frustration, but more than that, he tried to control the darkness from taking over and plain killing them both for hardly any reason at all. Realizing his folly had forced him to seek the still of the night, and he could find respect for Imaroch, who managed to kill only a few Shades every year with his tainted mood. Vendetta’s grip on his arm disturbed his sought-our peace, but by that time most of the simmering fury had withered down.

“Would you sit and smile, joke around, refuse assistance to those you cared about; knowing you yourself was already a target for simply speaking, harbouring me?” Charon asked quietly, breathing in deeply to try and calm down the shivers running down his back out of sheer annoyance. The darkness was pushing him to kill, to take their blood for their insolence, but it wasn’t in the way they spoke –or how; not in the least. It was their utter refusal, their hypocrisy towards Vendetta. “Do you believe them?” Charon said, finally opening his eyes to see Vendetta illuminate the night with her powers. “Do you really think they care, if they so blatantly feast, laugh, and reject you the next morning? Is that how it works for Roses? Because if a Shade is loyal to someone, he’d die willingly for protecting that person –be it we swore to Imaroch, or the ones we care for.”
It was true Shades cared little for anyone, but considering their ‘relationship’, there was no denying something had shifted where at first Charon had merely protected Vendetta because he wanted to safe-guard her addictive energy which was her life. Now though, he did so because they had made a pact, and there was no denying he cared on a deeper level than mere use and abuse.

“Elii’s wrong though,” the Shade whispered with a cocky grin, “I do own you now, as much as you own my power.” A dark shimmer crossed Charon’s otherwise light grey eyes and turned them a darker shade, clueing away he was in fact having trouble maintaining his own personality under the onslaught the darkness reigned down on his soul in a foul attempt at claiming everything he was. Off course, what with part of him with Vendetta it could never succeed, but that didn’t mean it would relent just like that –in fact, it sought only more creative way of torturing the Shade to surrender his mind and soul to the encompassing depth.
“If Titov comes here, and presses them for information he will know where we’ve planned to go –we should do something unpredictable, unless you are so confident you can topple your leader even walking into a well-prepared trap. Now I know the darkness is strong, but there are limits to what we can do when faced with many,” Charon muttered as his thought led the way onto a new trail conjured up in an attempt to decide where to go from here.

“I could kill them both with ease, a dead man tells no tale, and those that refuse to rise for fear of Titov might as well just lie down and decay,” the darkness promised leisurely, confident. No longer angry, but reassured, and Charon stepped closer to Vendetta, allowing her a glimpse inside the ink cesspool which wound down eternally within his eyes, black as night –though not the night as Charon perceived it. “This, was destiny, a glorious future awaits us both, trust me,” he whispered seductively, encroaching upon the Rose, reaching out to tenderly tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Trust us, we will provide. We don’t need them.”

"We don't have a choice."Vendetta looked to Charon and nodded slightly. Wherever they went, Titov would know or at least someone would and she knew this for certain. She sighed and ran a pale hand through her ebony hair, feeling the strands brush softly against her flesh and she looked thoughtful, musing over their choices. She paced slightly, dress rippling against her frame before she watched Elii.

"Watch your mouth, Shade. I looked after Mercy as she grew up. You simply waltz in here and think you own her!"He spat angrily and Daika nodded in agreement, murmuring quietly as Elii continued, "I want her safe and look what she's got herself into!"He snarled and muttered,"I've already lost one daughter, you think I want to go through another death?!If she dies, Shade...Id she dies..."He said, seething slightly and Daika muttered, "If she dies I'll kill him myself."He threatened, although to him it was a promise.

Vendetta stepped in and remarked,"If I die, it'll be my own fault, Elii."She warned and glared at Daika,"You shut your damned mouth before I stitch it shut, Daika. Know your place!"She stayed almost calm, a little anger bubbling beneath the surface as she sighed softly and shook her head, "Marius-"She sighed as the Shade walked out and she shook her head a little before following the furious and irritated man out, keeping her wits about her, not wanting to feed the fire that was his annoyance as she stood, watching him walk and she kept her gaze fixed on him, seating herself on the dried dirt that was the path to the house.

She knew that Elii and Daika's remarks as the Shade had stormed out were simply out of protection for her and hatred towards some Shades but then, they needn't be so brash. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and lifted her head again, musing over everything that had happened as she did so, eyes thoughtfully tracking the Shade but she made no effort to follow him, unlike him she knew when people needed to cool off and she didn't want to bother with trying to calm him off. He was old enough to do that himself and quite frankly, she was annoyed with herself. She should know what she was doing, shouldn't she?! She sighed and shook her head, clearing her thoughts. She looked over her shoulder, pondering on whether the building behind her was going to be burnt to the ground by tomorrow morning and she flinched a little. As much as she detested Daika and Elii for their actions, she did not want them to be harmed or killed. Especially not by Immaroch or Titov.

She got up and walked, more ran, after Charon, catching his arm in her soft grip, not wanting to harm him or startle him as she mumbled, "Charon...They don't know what they're saying, they don't mean it."She said calmly and smiled a little at him giving his arm a reassuring squeeze as she slipped her hand off his arm and kept her gaze levelly on his before she sighed and murmured, "They're just being protective and I know they are acting foolish and stupid but they don't mean it, all right?"She thought for a moment before watching the Shade before him and then grinning a little. "If I thought you were in danger then I'd do the same for you..."She sort of was doing the same for him, she didn't want the man to come to any harm and she sighed a little.

"None of this was supposed to happen, Charon. But it did."

“Cowards,” Charon mumbled under his breath, not responding to the ludicrous outcry of Elii. If anything, instead of amused, the man should watch his tongue, for his response to such insolence had only been held back by the flimsy promise he had made with Vendetta. First Daika, and now Elii, annoyed the Shade greatly, and the darkness flickered whimsically, as if trying to tell their master the promise wasn’t made between them and Vendetta, a convenient loophole Charon chose not to abuse. It would be betraying what little trust there had been allowed to grow between the Rose and the Shade. So utterly shallow, their sniping remarks, their condescending ways of thinking.
The food distracted Charon, but all hunger had evaporated, and had been replaced by bloodlust –moody, annoyed and pissed. Then again, what had he been expecting? Perhaps after they had robbed Titov of his life would Elii speak differently, but Charon decided childishly that he wouldn’t allow for it any more; the man had messed up.
Death would be his just reward. Almost did Charon feel tempted to feign sickness, pushing the food around in the bowl as he stood silently, if only to ensure they would remain another day attracting unwanted attention forcing the two Roses to take their plight seriously.

“A convenience since we’re going exactly where you tell us to, knowing you are under Titov’s watch? I don’t think so,” Charon replied solemnly, “nor do I feel much for meeting up with someone who already knows everything –it makes him a liability; and if he knows where we’re going, so do Imaroch and Titov. No. We’re not going there. Besides, I don’t see how one person can help; if Roses such as you are too afraid to even stand up, what could he possibly do?”
Darkness flared as Charon’s emotions did and it was apparent he didn’t like being played with; everything about these Roses ruffled his feathers, as if sensing something in the air trying to worm its way into his mind –darkness, no doubt. The grip Charon had on the bowl turned his knuckles white and with strict self-control the man put his untouched food down.
“You irk me, Elii, and you Daika, are nothing but a cowering fool lacking restraint over his rampant and pubertal emotions. Our presence here alone has dragged you into this mess we’ve created out of free will –there is no denying involvement now. Both of you shall die before daybreak –that is a promise and a fact.” Charon ground out dangerously and everything seemed to darken, even the fire crouched low, trying to hide from the pressure of the darkness before the Shade rediscovered his balance, breathed in deeply and relaxed.
“If not by my hands; then by a Shade following in my wake, Titov, or Imaroch. So smile all you can for now,” darkness grinned at Elii, “you are as useless a life form as a human.”

Apparently Elii hadn’t grasped the complete focus of the bond he had created between Vendetta and him, because if he had, he would’ve perhaps treated them both with a little more respect. Charon had no doubt Elii would be a considerable foe was he a Shade, but that wasn’t exactly the case here any longer.
Done with trying to temper down his annoyance Charon left the house and slammed the door shut behind him, breathing in the intoxicating fresh air of the clear night. Everything was so clear in the darkness now –the stars were each a sun on their own, closer than the one shining during the day; colours –myriads of energy- illuminated the sky. Trees, flowers, the very earth shone brightly with the flow of life, and around where he stood everything was being taken, like a black hole slowly reeling everything in to consume it, and add to the growing collective which was darkness. Every secret gleamed in the corner of his eyes, each unspoken word was whispered in his ears, each hidden object proved in plain sight –hiding, sleeping, everything and nothing. It was chaotic perfection.
Charon walked ahead with closed eyes, allowing himself to calm down as he thought. What good would one man do them –if not to spread the word and create for them in turn an army? Emaras would be his pawn like that; allying Shades to his cause using his reputation. What good would one entertained Immortal do, laugh and cajole like Elii? Tell them; they were doing a good job being little ants? The thought alone wanted Charon to play with the man eternally –watch him suffer and writhe and dissect the man to find out where his secret lied. Take his blood, over and over again.
‘Consume, devour, decay, kill,’ whispers, voices, the collective of all which was darkness. Charon bathed in it as he did in the darkness surrounding him.

The Rose watched the Shade, placidly through the veil of the flickering flame atop the candle, slightly amused as she thought to herself and then answered, "I wouldn't have killed him. Not yet."She smirked and then looked Charon over as he spoke, "And I am not going to fly off again."She watched him take his exit and called after him, eyebrows raised, "Although if he irritates me I'm not held accountable for my actions."She frowned a little and blew the candle out, plunged into darkness as she followed her company.

Downstairs was warm, the fire had been glowing all night it would seem and she smiled to herself as she went through to the kitchen, speaking over her shoulder to a quietly observing Elii, "You know why I'm here, Elii?"She said and Elii nodded slightly, a worried expression plastered upon his face, "Yes. I thought it was just rumour but obviously not."He sighed and remarked,"Mercy, I cannot help you. Titov has us under watch as it is."He pointed out and looked over to her, smirking at how much she had grown since their last meeting. She was powerful aswell and he spied the mark on her chest, looking to the Shade and laughing a little,"You took a bond?!Good grief."He snorted and then shook his head.

Vendetta glared somewhat,"Elii, you know of someone who can help?"She said, ignoring his rather sharp replies and comments as she studied him with careful eyes, passing Charon some food in a bowl as she kept her eyes fixated upon Elii who chuckled,"Yes I do. Marius."He responded light heartidly towards her, attitude changing dramatically now he knew he didn't need to be involved, or so he thought. Vendetta paused and looked at him, then Charon, "Marius? As in...the Immortal?"She looked bewildered and confused, "He would never harbour me or Charon."She said, perplexed as she ignored a sulking Daika who watched in the corner with bleary eyes. Vendetta had heard of him, met him once even as a very young child to recieve a blessing of sorts. She had only been seven and she doubted the man would even remember her!

Daika smirked and piped in, smoothly, "He's the best chance you have. Me and my father won't help you."Now it became apparant. Titov had these two under watch and Daika had spilled the story of the events upstairs to his father. How hilarious and Vendetta smiled innocently,"Oh...If you won't help us then I can kill you now, Daika."She said with a nod and Daika blinked, quickly falling silent. Vendetta smirked and then turned to Elii, "We have no rights of passage, Elii. Marius would sooner kill me on sight."She remarked and leant against a wall.

Elii yawned,"You have to pass that way anyway. Titov hides in the mountains. A convinience for you,no?Seeing as it isn't too far. You'll find his cavern by the slope of the path upwards. He won't kill you." He stated and smiled somewhat, "He already knows of your quest and the Immortal is quite pleased."He laughed slightly and looked at Vendetta, then Charon, "Mercy be careful."He warned softly and Daika just glared from the kitchen doorway behind Vendetta but she seemed settled enough.

She looked thoughtful. "To meet with Marius the Immortal..."She smiled to herself, eyes glittering slightly, she clearly knew more about this Marius and she looked to Charon,"Very well."She smirked to herself and yawned slightly, the last piece of exhaustion flitting from her form and she grinned,"What say you, Charon?"

Without ever waking, or moving, Charon’s mind was aware the moment the darkness blotted out the sun and majestically turned day into night. Everything around him could be felt –not so much seen, as touched- and it proved an awkward sensation at best. As if his mind had been wrapped in a perfect cocoon, but his talons –the many tendrils of darkness stretching out throughout the world- made perfect extensions of his omnipotent control over the darkness, and thus, control over what happened around him. Her fine hands, the blanket falling from her warmed shoulders, her muscles coiling underneath her skin and the prickling annoyance of the candle burning brightly –flickering in fear. Almost did Charon feel tempted to extend his mere observation into action, to overwhelm and consume the meagre flame, but that would be petty. Like giving in to the infernal desire to give his all to the darkness as per their demands; how strong a will did one need when the temptations were shared?

“Did you talk to Elii?” Charon spoke hoarsely, shifting on the bed without opening his eyes, sighing deeply. He felt a lot better than the first time he had awoken to Vendetta’s shouts of anger but the excitement at darkness’ power which he had felt the two days prior had been marginally dulled. Almost regretfully he finally managed to open his grey eyes, which appeared darker in the murky ink a distance away from the glowing wick. Sighing deeply the Shade eventually sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, stretching his back –muscles stiff after lying still for so long. Obviously sleep was something different than just surrendering to the darkness during the day –even though it in turn provided energy given from the darkness, and that there was the crux.
His would be replaced in total slowly, by the darkness –and where first his shadows had welcomed the power; excited, they were now suppressed and replaced.
“Vendetta?” Charon asked, watching the Rose stare at the candle, plunged in thoughts miles away –hopefully not reminiscing about Arine again, for the Shade didn’t really take kindly to another run-in with her blade.

Tentatively he stood, and tried to smooth out his tousled hair unsuccessfully, taking a few stiff steps towards the Rose and crouched down on the other side of the candle. The dark man’s arms were hanging listlessly from his shoulders, one resting in his lap –the other on the floor, eyes trained on the flickering light. How symbolic.
“We should talk to them and leave –we’ve overstayed our welcome, I think. Are you going to lose it again? I mean, not that I don’t mind you killing Daika but … dead people make lousy friends, nor do they help in defeating our opponents,” the Shade teased her earlier outburst, slightly entertained with the prospect of watching if she did fly of the handle once more.
The darkness knew no fear, and Charon was a lousy student when it came to facing female dangers, making the same mistakes not once, but twice, and on occasion even a third time. Vendetta probably already knew this though –from their first encounter out he had always been uncaring of any dangers or injuries, though for now he didn’t mind facing ‘Mercy’s’ wrath as opposed to any other Shade or Rose.
If anything though the Shades had been mighty quiet; the gruesome annulling of Dratum must’ve been a shock to those considering the Shade one of the strongest and most loyal to Imaroch. Lost in his own maze of thoughts Charon rose at his legs mild protest and made his way to the door, “Or at the very least eat the scraps of last night. I’m hungry,” Charon grinned –something mean to be comforting- but it only added to his look of derangement. With that the darkness departed with the Shade, ambling down the stairs to be greeted by the warmth of the hearth and the gentle murmur of hushed conversation.

Vendetta stayed silent, not replying to anything the Shade said as she simply watched him go with emotionless eyes. She regretted losing her temper so quickly and sighed, shaking her head before looking towards the stairs, debating whether to follow Daika but then, she saw no need in it. It would only annoy her to the point she would lose her temper once more and she saw very little use in that. The cold sheen of her eyes then moved towards the doorway to her room and she frowned a little, moving into the room and reseating herself in the ledge, tugging a blanket around her shoulders as she decided it was best to sleep right through until sunset, rest might help her current mood.

As she sank back, as much as was possible in the ledge, she sighed and closed her eyes, knees propped up and she eventually dozed off and it was no surprise whom was lurking in wait for her to fall into precious dreams...

It was so real,the swirl of the spring breeze around her skirts and the smell of the newly harvested crops and somewhere close by she could hear familliar laughter and the twang of laughter. Mercy emerged from some stooks, grinning as she approached the gypsy caravan like wagon and sat beside Arine, letting a gypsy woman braid her hair as she listened to an elderly gypsy man talk in rhymes about the hills they had ventured through and Mercy giggled, sounding so much like the forgotten child she knew so well and Arine smiled, "if Daika find them here..."Arine warned and Mercy laughed a little, "Then...We'll defend them."She broke off a stook, pricking her fingers but they were used to the thorn like prickliness of the stooks and she twirled with it, pretending it was a blade as Arina squealed with laughter and the gypsy man chuckled. Arine got up and hummed a little, tripping up Mercy who frowned at her playfully,"Hey!"She whined and got up. Arine gave her a tip, one that had stuck with her, "Never play with the thought of your enemies."She advised, helping Mercy up and brushing her down. The gypsy man, one Vendetta couldn't remember the name of to this day, smiled,"Well, it's nice to see young girls who can watch their own backs." Arine and Mercy grinned proudly, their symbols hidden beneath their long sleeves. Such a grand time that was but then Winter had come and they had been made to stay indoors and only allowed out to help with the crops and animals, their fingers stiff with the cold.

Vendetta yawned as she came too, the room plunged into darkness and she stirred a little, bones cracking sickly into place and she realised she had not lit a candle for the night and she sat up. She slid the blanket off her person and gingerly rubbed her head, exhaustion evaporating as her vision cleared and she then stood up, getting down from the window ledge and fumbling for a candle, keeping quiet as she lit one up, a beacon of golden light alighting her face and she left it on the side for when Charon woke up. She then sat down and watched the candlelight flicker, lost within her own thoughts.

Foul smelling intoxicating fear, mingling with the heavy scent of blood nearly stunned Charon, forcing him to swallow thickly against the rising excitement of the darkness, and the added pressure of building darkness straining against his will. Vendetta might’ve killed Daika, but Charon would’ve devoured the remains gladly –blood, energy and soul; everything. Her anger mirrored her anguish; something the Shade and his addled mind had only just sidestepped yesterday by sheer luck. The scared expression Daika flashed him however was priceless, though as the other man scrambled to go downstairs Charon couldn’t help but feel their problem was ambling down along with him. His earlier protests might’ve been made from the green fields of jealousy –now they would flash from where Daika’s protective nature resided and his concerns would echo in Elii for certain.
If Elii was any shade of smart he’d be able to discern truth from lies easily, and the male Rose wasn’t feeding of his pride this time. Such a shame, but when it came to that –Charon was fully prepared to kill them both if need be to safeguard their secrets from spilling into the open. Forgotten about his own wellbeing for the moment, his grey eyes levelled on Vendetta, his grin slowly melting into a neutral expression. Again she was dismissing him, but even though her aching flared even higher than last night Charon was hesitant to try and comfort her. It was blatantly apparent that on occasion the witty man had masochistic tenancies, however he wanted to respect the Rose’s wishes above all –not grate on her nerves, or push her boundaries like that; also, the knife seemed like too painful an alternative after all.

‘I never meant to wake you.’
The darkness?
The shadows within her heart? Him being her taint made tangible?
With a sigh Charon closed his eyes and leaned his shoulder into the wall, allowing his hands to drop to his sides.
“Well, that’s good, because I never meant to wake up either,” he said –and his words did hold more than one meaning. The comfort offered by the darkness had been broken by the light of day –but he wanted really badly to go back to it and submerge himself for eternity, without ever thinking of the consequences of what that meant the darkness would do to him or his body. Carefully he opened his eyes once more, just watching, knowing exactly what Vendetta was feeling, but without judging, or voicing his concerns or offering anything. In the end he would be all that was left to her anyway –he didn’t have to force her to do anything; she wouldn’t have a choice in the end. Not Daika, nor Elli, or even Arine –had she still been alive- would’ve been able to stand at her side to exact her gruesome vengeance, her grudge.

“Don’t be sad, feast her death –celebrate her life,” Charon whispered gently before bringing up a hand to rub his eyes and with the added support of the wall plodded back towards the room, this time taking a moment to undo the sheets from where they were tucked in before lying down. He felt cold, and sick, even in the warm room bathing in the sun and was thankful for the soft bed supporting his weight.
Nothing he could’ve done would take away the emotions Vendetta allowed only for those she truly cared about, nothing could’ve been said. Therefore, it was probably best to take himself out of the equation, since the argument which would follow downstairs would only be compromised by his –to them- ominous presence.
The pillow underneath his head carried her scent –ever so faintly, as if she had slept in it once and it had never been washed afterwards. Perhaps the window sill had been her common place of stay for more often than he had figured at first. Whichever it was; Charon gratefully turned to lie on his side and closed out the light by relaxing, tentatively reaching out towards the darkness lying a breath away within his mind.

The grasp of a hand on her own startled Vendetta and she tugged at it, futiley as she mentally cursed her emotions for wrecking havoc upon her and confusing her utterly but her gaze was fixated on the pathetic creature that was Daika and it was probably likely that if Charon hadn't woken, he would be dead right now and she narrowed her eyes, dangerously before listening to what Charon said, reluctantly as she pulled away, lifting the right side of her dress up to her thigh and latching the blade back into a strap that lay around her smooth thigh. "Count yourself lucky."She snapped at Daika who looked at Charon, half relieved and half bewildered. He seemed to value his life enough that he got up and stumbled down the stairs, muttering as he went to wake Elii.

Vendetta said nothing to Charon, doubting he understood what she was going through. In a way, she wished that the memory she passed to him had been of herself and Arine, then maybe he would understand the closeness they had shared. All the times they had hidden gypsy people in the tall stooks outside in Elii's fields and sat at their feet, listening to their songs, poems, prayers and stories. They would watch them dance together in an array of bright colour and in turn, they gave them shelter for a few days and food and water to send them on their way. Or perhaps the times Arine had spent hours teaching Vendetta to dance, even the rarest of dances and she had been so patient and in repayment, Vendetta had taught her songs and how to paint on animal hides dried out and such. Even when they had needed to work (As Elii had so often said; "Earn your keep" But he meant it kindly and in jest and the two had not minded working the fields.) the two had been laughing and joking.

Vendetta leant against the wall, lowering her dress oncemore and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She was unnerved and it would sound so foolish, seeing as she had not seen Arine in a nearly a year but there was acomfort in knowing her 'sister' still walked the earth and now, something was definitely missing from the world around her and it stung as bad as hearing her brother and rest of her family die and then seeing their bodies whilst being spared for some cruel purpose, one she could only guess as to live with the guilt that she breathed and exsisted whilst her family ceased to do so. She gathered herself and looked to Charon, not angry anymore. Distracted, her eyes dim for the first time in a while as she mumbled,"Go back to bed. I didn't mean to wake you." She gestured feebly to her rooms door and she did not exactly meet Charon's gaze, if she looked to him it would be his shoulder she watched. She had no will power to argue with him. Not right now.

She looked towards the stairs, mouth open ever so slightly and she was tense all over, too tense to tremble or shake and to lost in herself to even bother with tears. She would never be what her mother had wanted of a daughter, so she thought. It had been different here, as a child. So different, Arine had accepted her, helped her through her grief in the kindest and warmest way possible and Vendetta had been eternally grateful for this and she would always be. It seemed the smallest things were what the Rose remembered of her friend, going to the market and having playful squabbles over dresses and such. She blinked as she remembered when Daika had got himself completely intoxicated and enraged himself at her once, pinning her and cutting off all her hair, she had never seen Arine so angry before and it had made even her quake.

With emmense effort, the Rose managed to sigh and look again at Charon, his shoulder rather than his eyes, and she repeated quietly what she had said and rubbed her temples.

"I never meant to wake you."

Weightless, floating through perfect darkness without being able to tell whether or not his eyes were open Charon felt numb. Completely submerged and cradled in safety, there was nothing to disturb him –everything was silent, senseless. The darkness was like a womb in which all else was stored away together, to finally rest without a care.
‘Stay with us, eternally,’ it whispered, or rather, transmitted directly into his mind, ‘and this tranquillity will be yours for as long as you exist.’ Off course, no matter the dull perfection and semblance of peace, Charon couldn’t give in –that would mean dying a pusillanimous death. Her voice broke his silence, passion sparking, anger, emotion –everything the darkness was not: life.
“Stand up!” Voices outside of his dark and comfortable realm shook him from his comfort, though that didn’t mean the Shade didn’t resist with a passion the awakening and return to the real world. Unsure of how much time had passed; grey hazy eyes took in the unfamiliar ceiling, groaning as the light split his skull with a fierce pulsating motion, nauseating. Memories rushed back in place: Arine, the dance, and Vendetta’s anger –though that one appeared to be quite recent still. Darkness churned almost as wickedly as his stomach and Charon heaved himself up from where he was lying, feeling shaky and tired still. It wasn’t uncommon to awake during the day –with the fresh chirping of animals, and life celebrating the gift of their God, but it was when light rose at the time of mental departure into the dream world.
“Couldn’t they just wait?” Charon asked pathetically, steadying himself on the cabinet beside the bed, his knees more prone to listening to his bodies desires instead of his mind’s wants. “At least until I’ve had more than a few hours of sleep?” The grating headache wasn’t enough to impede the Shade’s thinking, and with a heavy sigh –not only to still the nausea but also to gather some courage- he shuffled towards the door, raking a hand through his hair.

Vendetta looked precious in his eyes, and despite feeling like someone had done a number on him in terms of poison, a grin spread out like warmth did through his body whenever she was gracious enough to spill her energy. Blood evaporated enticingly, causing the darkness to gloat and push Charon closer, tendrils wanting to escape his firm grip what with him lacking the will and strength to resist. However, the dealing with shadows and darkness respectively had been going on all his life, and as such, Daika could rest easily in the knowledge Charon wasn’t about to lose what feeble control he still had over his desires.
Now if Vendetta was the one bleeding, there would’ve been no telling what he would’ve done in turn, “What’s going on?” His voice penetrated the air smoothly, his hand seeking balance on the nearest wall, his eyes narrowed to block the excess light out. Yet he grinned like a madman.

However they needed Daika and Elii’s help. Never lose your goal out of sights; he chastised the darkness, which threatened to dare walk the walls in the midst of day despite the energy that would cost Charon in turn. Not having forgotten her prior words which admonished him to refrain from touching her, Charon took the risk and caught Vendetta’s hand in his, the knife trapped in between as he had walked up close to her. His hot breath flowed across the raised hairs at the back of her neck, but his hands were cool and solid.

“Breath, Vendetta, don’t allow for the shadows to spill,” he whispered gently, knowing she too –unbeknownst or not- was affected by the shadows cast by his darkness hidden with her light. His other hand came to rest at the back of her neck, administering his cool and grounding touch there as well. He was risking the knife, but that too held certain advantages in the end –her energy overflowing in him. Surely it was feeding his perpetual affection and addiction with her being. Almost did he long for it, so strongly, he would gladly jump before Daika to take the furious hits aimed at him –although completely drawn out of proportion.
“He’s not a spy, he may be jealous, and going about getting the wrong idea, but he hasn’t been betraying us,” Charon spoke softly –more to accommodate his own growing headache than he was Vendetta’s nerves. Would Vendetta grow angry even more and strike, there was little the Shade wanted to do –he felt like lying down again, his legs squeamish, and his stomach rebelling slightly.
If only he could rid himself of the lazy grin propagating his foul victory.